家庭教師
katei kyōshi
The English phrase 'tutor' is translated into Japanese as 家庭教師 (katei kyōshi).
家庭教師 specifically refers to a private tutor who visits a student's home, rather than a teacher in a school setting. While 家庭教師 is the specific term for this role, note that the word Sensei is the most commonly used word for "teacher" in Japan and signifies a person of authority or expertise.
Meaning: one who teaches another (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 家庭 (katei), meaning 'home' or 'household' and 教師 (kyōshi), meaning 'teacher'.
How do you pronounce it?
katei kyōshi
Did you know?
- While Sensei is used for tutors, it is also used for doctors, lawyers and authors, as it denotes any master of a craft regardless of whether they have a classroom.
- It is common for university students to work as 家庭教師 to pay for their own studies, making the role a rite of passage for many Japanese undergraduates.
- Historically, elite Japanese education involved 私塾 (shijuku), private academies that functioned as tutoring centers long before the modern public school system was established.
Examples in context
- 新聞の広告で、家庭教師を見つけました。I found a tutor through a newspaper ad.This sentence shows how to use 家庭教師 in the context of finding one through an advertisement.Tatoeba #11879000 by small_snow, translation #10643161 by ddnktr
- 日本の学歴社会の最高峰である東大生になって、一番驚いたことは時給１万円という家庭教師料金だ。When I became a student of Tokyo University, the pinnacle of achievement in academic-focused Japan, the thing that most surprised me was that I could make 10,000 yen an hour as a home tutor.This sentence illustrates a context regarding the hourly rates of a 家庭教師.Tatoeba #182528 by sugisaki, translation #10109474 by deltadave
- Watashi wa Nihongo no sensei o sagashite imasu. (私は日本語の先生を探しています。)I am looking for a Japanese tutor.
- 来月から新しい家庭教師が来ます。Raigetsu kara atarashii kateikyoushi ga kimasu.A new tutor is coming starting next month.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are talking about their school grades.
- 大翔 Hiroto数学が苦手で困っているよ。Sūgaku ga nigate de komatte iru yo.I'm struggling because I'm bad at math.
- 陽葵 Himari家庭教師を頼んでみたらどうかな？Kateikyōshi o tanonde mitara dō kana?Why don't you try hiring a tutor?
- 大翔 Hirotoそれはいい考えだね。Sore wa ii kangae da ne.That's a good idea.
- 陽葵 Himari私の知り合いにいい人がいるよ。Watashi no shiriai ni ii hito ga iru yo.I know someone who would be good.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tutor” translations and entries 家庭教師, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
